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Posts Tagged: streaming online

Love kicking back for a relaxing night with Netflix? Us too. No matter how much time you spend watching, though, you’ll never be a real power user if you don’t poke around under the entertainment hood. We took the time to really dive in (so you don’t have to), and rounded up a collection of tricks will greatly improve your Netflix experience.

Here are our top tips to take your Netflix binges to the next level:

1. Switch to high quality

High quality is the best quality when you’re enjoying movies online. You can manually force HD playback on Netflix on your TV to ensure your media is always shown in the highest-quality possible. First, make sure that your internet connection supports streaming 5 megabits/second or more, then log in and go to Account Settings > Playback Settings to select high quality.

(Note: Chrome users won’t be able to use this trick – sorry!)

2. Stream off peak hours

This may seem a little more on the obvious side, but choosing to stream Netflix shows NOT during peak hours will always award you with better quality. When less people are using Netflix overall, it improves downstream data traffic and thus, your viewing experience.

3. Use your phone as a remote

Lost the remote in your couch cushions again? You can turn any smartphone into a remote control just by downloading the Netflix app for iPhone, Android or Windows Phone. Once installed and synced properly, you’ll be able to play, pause, stop and browse all from your connected device. Technology rules.

4. Create multiple profiles

We all have those guilty, yet amazing, pleasures we jump to when no one else is around to judge our viewing habits. Now you don’t have to hide when you create multiple profiles on Netflix! It’s free, easy to set up, and you’ll be able to generate a different profile for your chick flicks, horror movies, or anything else you may want to keep separate from your main account.

5. Say goodbye to buffering

Buffering movies and shows on your laptop can be a serious time-waster. To get rid of buffering in Netflix while playing a title, select Shift+Opt (Shift+Alt for Windows) and left click to open up a “hidden” menu called the Stream Manage. You’ll find buffering fixes, along with some other helpful tips!

(Note: For Chrome users, press Ctrl+Shift+Alt/Opt+S to access this menu.)

6. Find the best flicks

Reddit brings out the best (and sometimes worst) parts of the Internet. Use it to your advantage and head to r/netflixbestof to check out all of the best, most painstakingly-selected shows and movies to see so you never have to browse aimlessly again.

8. Enhance your viewing

Browser extensions are better than they’ve ever been. With one add-on in Chrome called Netflix Enhancements, you can instantly access IMDB profiles, movie trailers, pop-up ratings from sources like Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes, and more. You can even customize what you see once it’s installed.

9. Utilize keyboard shortcuts

Because streaming TV shows and movies should be as efficient as any other kind of digital hacking, Netflix keyboard shortcuts exist to streamline your viewing:

Play/Pause – Space bar OR Enter key

Play – Page Up key

Pause – Page Down key

Enable Full screen – F key

Disable Full screen – Esc key

Rewind 10 seconds – Shift + Left Arrow

Fast Forward 10 seconds – Shift + Right Arrow

Volume Up/Down – Up Arrow/Down Arrow

Mute On/Off – M key

Toggle by frame – CTRL + Space bar

Did we miss something? Share your favorite Netflix tips and tricks with us on Facebook!

Online streaming is entirely awesome. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu allow you to binge-watch your favorite series whenever you want, on any kind of device that you connect with. However, these solutions are far from being perfect. Sometimes your favorite show can be inaccessible or disappear without a trace — that’s why many consumers who fall in love with fast-paced shows such as House of Cards or Orange is the New Black really want to know how to record Netflix.

Netflix is not the only streaming platform that presents this problem. Amazon Prime and Hulu take down their shows and movies after a set period of time, too. If you don’t know how to record Hulu, Amazon Prime, or your other favorite streaming services, you might not be able to see your favorite show or movie if (and when) it’s taken down.

This alone should be good enough reason to save and watch your favorite shows offline, but here’s our complete top six list of reasons to save your online media.

1. Captured content is more consumer-friendly

(GIF via reactiongifs.com)

Watching shows on Netflix is great if you’re at home. But, what if you’re on-the-go? 1080p videos will burn through your monthly data plan so fast, it’ll make your head spin. If you record a movie from Netflix on your phone or tablet while you’re safely connected to your home WiFi, you can watch that content anywhere without worrying about high data charges.

Let’s not forget then that in-flight WiFi often doesn’t allow you to access streaming platforms, for reasons connected to bandwidth. Frequent flying (and other Internet-lacking means of travel) is always less stressful if you can access your favorite show or movie offline!

When it comes to paying for a streaming service, content is king. That means Netflix won’t be as aggressive as you’d expect when it comes to adding new shows.

3. Netflix doesn’t have as many titles as you might think

(GIF via HBO.com)

As of 2016, they only had 4,563 movies and 2,445 series. As a matter of fact, their catalog has shrunk in the past year. There was one time when they had over 13,000 shows – this latest count puts them at 6,998, or just under 7,000.

Other services will most likely follow suit, as well.

4. Content licenses come and go

(GIF via teamcoco.com)

Netflix is constantly changing up their copyright agreements; they operate on a temporary licensing model. This means their shows expire, and you have no idea when they are coming back.

If a show is not popular enough, they might take it down. If a show is too popular, they might have to take it down, too (usually to renegotiate the license).

5. Weak connections can spoil streaming

(GIF via reddit.com)

Watching a movie online means that you can follow your favorite characters without interruptions. Unlike YouTube or network TV, you can fully plunge into the story without any commercial breaks or other distractions.

A lagging Internet connection or a sudden temporary disruption might spoil the most intriguing plot twist…and the moment is ruined! Internet speed is not the same everywhere, and in a pretty standard household, it’s normal to have multiple smartphones, a TV and even tablets all connected at once.

This also holds true for commuters who have to deal with an intermittent mobile connection.

6. It’s legal (for personal use) and you can still support the creators

(GIF via imgur.com)

Your monthly or annual fee covers the licensing costs that distribution companies negotiate with each streaming platform. These, in turn, share profit with the producers; a mechanism similar to old-school TV.

From a legal standpoint, you’re on the right side of the law. In 1984, the Supreme Court ruled time-shifted to view that recording videos for your own personal, non-commercial use is not against the law. At the time of clunky VCRs, people used to record their favorite shows to watch them at a more convenient time or to be able to re-watch them. Later on, people could consider whether or not they would buy a physical copy of the movie.

The business model for producers and distribution companies has changed and revenue streams are mostly generated at theaters (for movies) and through licenses. That’s a perk of a Netflix recorder – you can save each show and watch it without limitations. In the meantime, you can still consider buying a Blu-ray or DVD (if available) to further support the creators of the show.

These are some of the reasons why being able to record Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime video streams is a vital complementary feature. Replay Video Capture allows people to record movies from Netflix (and basically any other platforms) before the company takes them down.

Use Replay Video Capture to get your favorite content before it disappears from your online streaming service, and to enjoy movies and online shows without worrying about your connection!

Streaming media like music, movies and shows online has been around for decades now, but has reached new levels of popularity with the introduction of popular (often paid) services. As cable-cutting becomes more intuitive and budget-friendly, traditional cable subscriptions are increasingly more complicated and pricey. It’s a no-brainer why entertainment enthusiasts are choosing options for streaming media online.

Because no one streaming service is created equal (and can have frequently rotating collections of content), we created the software in Replay Capture Suite to save it all. If you can stream it online, you can record and save it forever, no matter the device or internet connection. Here are our favorite streaming sites to record media online:

Netflix

(GIF via Netflix)

A clear winner in many streamers’ eyes, Netflix is powerhouse in the online streaming industry. With so many titles available at any given time, you can stay entertained for hours (as long as you have internet and the titles you want are still there).

HBO

(GIF via Game of Thrones)

Want to learn how to record from HBO? You’re not alone. With hugely captivating shows like Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley and The Sopranos, it’s hard to pretend you don’t want to stream and save it all.

You can record HBO movies, series and any other content online with Replay Video Capture and save them all into a high quality format. Just subscribe to HBO Go if you’re a cable subscriber, or HBO Now if you’re not, and you’ll be able to access all of HBO’s media to record for offline use!

Spotify

Spotify is a force in the music streaming world. With 20 million songs from thousands of artists in every possible genre, there’s endless music to enjoy – as long as you have a WiFi connection.

Lucky for you, listeners can download music from Spotify and save every track into individual, perfectly-tagged songs using Replay Music – this makes it simple to listen to all your favorite music, anywhere. All you have to do is open the program on your computer, start the music, and click “Record” to record any music from Spotify.

Soundcloud

(GIF via micdotcom.tumblr.com)

Soundcloud gained its popularity in the MySpace era of the mid-2000’s with their simple platform for musicians to upload and share music. Naturally, this also attracted a lot of listeners, and today the streaming site boasts over 175 million monthly users.

Replay Music is the most powerful way to record Soundcloud music directly to high quality MP3 files. Advanced recording technology captures only the music you want to hear, and never any system sounds or background noises.

YouTube

(GIF via tumblr.com)

YouTube is home to sensation after sensation, music videos, full video series and even exclusive live streaming events. The entertainment doesn’t have to end when your WiFi fails you or your favorite channel removes some of its best content — Replay Media Catcher lets you download videos from YouTube so you can watch again and again.

With downloads that run 10 times faster than playback speed and lightning-fast conversions, Replay Media Catcher makes it easy to download from YouTube and automatically convert these videos to MP3, WMV, AVI and more. Plus, with a live stream monitor feature, you can actively track and record any YouTube live event.

We love Netflix, but it isn’t a perfect streaming service. The truth is, it can’t be.

With growing competition, incomplete collections, and temporary trademarks on titles, Netflix’s shortcomings across a myriad of areas will likely hinder it from becoming the “all-powerful streaming service” we thought it might be just a few years ago. These limitations and imperfections are some of the many reasons why it’s important to record Netflix TV shows and movies with Replay Video Capture, and save them for offline viewing before they inevitably disappear.

Market Share

This chart below, created by Nielsen, shows the penetration of streaming services and subscription video on demand services. Netflix leads the pack of streaming online with over 61 million subscribers and 36% of the market, but Amazon and Hulu also take close to 20%.

And, research has shown that Amazon’s popularity and market share is only growing as the company gathers more customers through their Prime service, gain more title contracts, and generate more original series.

Narrow Collection

At first glance, its impressive library of movies and shows, both original and licensed, seems never-ending. But, it does end. With only around 13,300 titles offered worldwide, Netflix’s collection is actually pretty limited in terms of selection. And, because of the ongoing rivalry between Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, it’s impossible to provide a truly complete catalog at all times and win over the entirety of the market.

Temporary Licensing

Part of this narrow collection is due to the structure and process of licensing content. Netflix is frequently changing up their online offerings; the reliability of their shows and movies are completely dependent on licensing agreements made with networks and filmmakers.

According to Investopedia, these agreements could “allow Netflix to stream all seasons of [a] show in full through its online platform for one, three or five years. The licensing agreement can be renegotiated after the set time period ends, or Netflix could drop the show from its library if viewer interest is not high enough to warrant the cost.”

Essentially, Netflix can drop content on a whim. And what if that show or movie they deemed ‘not popular enough’ was your all-time favorite? Download Replay Video Capture to record and save all of your favorite Netflix content, before time is up!

**There are now two DVR browser’s to choose from for users with IE 11+. The new DVR browser (Ax Browser) is the default. For users with IE 11 (or older) can access the old DVR browser (Browser Control). This can be changed in Settings.

Any questions on these recent updates? You can reach out to our Support Staff at any time!

This is truly a landmark year for the CrossFit Games, and it’s been a demanding journey from the Open, to the Regionals, to the Games — top athletes from each of the included 17 regions worldwide have been narrowed down from hundreds to the fittest 40 men, 40 women, 40 teams, 40 teenagers and 200 masters.

A key element to a fair test of fitness is the unknown and unknowable. Athletes cannot train for what they do not know. At each CrossFit Games, the athletes engage in a series of challenges unknown to them until right before the competition. The combination of highly trained athletes and unknown events makes for an explosive mix. – CrossFit Games Online

(Image via games.crossfit.com)

Check out the full, global leaderboard of every competing athlete HERE and see the Games schedule below:

Teenage & Masters Competition | 7/19 –7/21 | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. PT

Team Competition | 7/22 – 7/24 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT

Individual Competition | 7/22 – 7/24 | 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. PT

Fans of the 2016 CrossFit Games can capture every Masters, Teens and Teams events — streaming live from YouTube & the official CrossFit Games website — and store them in a high quality format withReplay Media Catcher. The Individual events will stream from ESPN3 and can be captured with Replay Video Capture.

With summer quickly approaching across much of the United States, one must arm oneself with the necessary tools to start — and finish — some really fun and useful projects.

The Replay Capture Suite is the most powerful pack of media recording software available today. And with a total of 7 programs included, it has every media related tool you might need to accomplish a ton of cool and unique media-based projects this summer.

1. Expand your music collection.

Tap into popular streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and more to create your ultimate personal library of music. With Replay Music, it’s easy to perfect your playlists, bulk up catalogs of your favorite new artists and make incredible mixes for endless listening, no matter the genre.

2. Generate amazing mashup videos.

From cute animal videos and science experiments on Vimeo, to the latest YouTube fashion and prankster sensations, and every kind of video in between — mix and match all of the best clips from online sites to create any kind of video you want with Replay Media Catcher! Make them laugh with prank compilations, think deeply about social causes or cry with tear-jerker moments.

3. Capture and watch unlimited entertainment.

If it’s available to stream, it’s available to capture for your own personal use — this makes the ever-rotating catalog of movies, shows, sports events and documentaries even more valuable to take advantage of! With Replay Video Capture, you can screen record and save all your favorites from Netflix, Hulu and more — including the NBA Playoffs online — and watch them as much as you want (even after they are removed online.)

4. Record endless audio adventures.

Podcasting is more popular these days than you’d think. With amazing shows like Serial and TED Talks, this form of media has made quite the resurgence. By scheduling, recording and archiving podcasts of any genre with Replay Radio, you’ll be sure to always have a full collection of adventures and new learnings to choose from.

You can complete all of these great projects and stock up on your favorite media using the products mentioned above — all included in the full Replay Capture Suite bundle of recording software. Ready to get started?

Some movies are amazingly brilliant, and some are so amazingly bad that it’s a wonder how they were ever conceptualized. Today, we’d like to honor some of those horrible, yet somehow captivating, films available online.

You can stream all of the terrible/awesome movies your heart can handle straight from your browser, then use Replay Video Capture to keep them forever. To get started, just fire up the software, start playing your top picks on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime, and start recording.

Take a look at some of our favorite worst movies to stream and save on Netflix right now:

1. Gigli

If you’ve ever wanted to see J. Lo pretend to be a “fatally gorgeous” gangster, please record and save this movie from Netflix. Ben Affleck (Gigli) also stars in this quintessentially awful/amazing movie from the early 2000’s, in which a kidnapping goes terribly awry. Sloppy, bizarre and yet somehow amazing.

(GIF via bustle.com)

2. Killer Mermaid

Somewhat creepy and terribly written, this flick is perfect for you horror lovers – if you want to laugh rather than being scared. The general plot line involves two American women on a vacation in the Mediterranean, where they stumble upon the lair of (you guessed it) a killer mermaid. This film is available to stream on Netflix, and definitely worth it for your next movie night.

(GIF via zombooyah2thesequel.tumblr.com)

3. Left Behind

Nicolas Cage is reason enough to watch and save this Armageddon based masterpiece from Netflix. In Left Behind, a handful of survivors are “left behind” after millions vanish; the world is plunged into chaos. And then there was Nic Cage.

(GIF via yahooentertainment.tumblr.com)

4. John Dies at the End

Comedy meets terror in this dark flick on Netflix. A new drug, referred to as Soy Sauce, promises an out-of-body experience like no other. People are scrambling for it, but there are (obviously) consequences. We won’t give you any other spoilers — this movie is perfect for livening up a boring evening.

(GIF via wifflegif.com)

5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny

This movie is actually pretty good if you’re into martial arts flicks, though still laughable compared to the original. Jason Scott Lee stars as a warlord hell-bent on stealing a sword from the good guys (and martial arts masters). Get a hold of this one on Netflix before your next kung fu binge!

Fans around the world rejoiced when Netflix announced it would expand service to 130 additional countries, making the streaming video giant available in almost every country (except for China).

Their bubble was soon after burst, however, when they discovered Netflix wouldn’t be including the full catalog in those countries. Content licenses are mainly to blame for the gap between countries’ catalogs, as studios and production companies stipulate where their content can be streamed. However, customers can take matters into their own hand — even before the global rollout, Netflix subscribers living abroad used VPNs (virtual private networks) to evade the geographic restrictions on streaming services like Netflix.

Why Virtual Private Networks?

VPN providers supply the software and servers needed to route an Internet connection through a proxy location, making it appear to Netflix as though the user is somewhere else. ExpressVPN is one such provider with hundreds of servers scattered across 78 countries. It offers apps, media consoles and routers with every subscription, and each server is optimized for web streaming for unlimited bandwidth.

An Imminent Ban on VPNs?

Shortly after its global roll-out, the company announced it would take steps to stop VPN users. While we’ve yet to see exactly what Netflix will do, it’s certain to be an uphill battle; the company can’t tell the difference between someone connecting from a VPN and someone connecting directly without knowing each specific VPN server’s IP address.

For Netflix, blocking VPNs will be a reluctant necessity to appease content publishers. Blocking VPN servers one by one is likely to result in a costly game of cat and mouse – Hulu attempted a similar ban in 2014 and gave up in defeat after less than a year.

Because Netflix actually gains from letting VPNs slip through the cracks, critics speculate if and when it will throw in the towel on such a profitless endeavor.

More Benefits than Just Netflix

Aside from unblocking Netflix, VPNs give users a slew of added security and other features. All traffic is encrypted and anonymous, so ISPs and hackers can’t monitor user activity. VPNs can also speed up streaming services in places that throttle bandwidth, because censors can’t identify the traffic; location restrictions on Spotify, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more can all be easily accessed with a VPN.

ExpressVPNgoes the extra mile when it comes to user privacy by never logging or monitoring user activity. On top of that, the company is based in the British Virgin Islands, beyond the legal jurisdiction of the US, UK, and EU. The right VPN provider can significantly boost a user’s privacy protection. If you value your privacy, or even if you just want to unblock geo-restricted content, you need a VPN.

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Applian Technologies recording products are not intended for use in circumventing copy protection mechanisms or for making illegal copies of copyrighted content. Please respect the rights of the content owners when recording.